The Pac-12 is reasonably well-positioned to send a team into the New Year’s Six, where an at-large berth in the Cotton is available.
The Pac-12 hasn’t placed a team in the College Football Playoff in six years. The conference’s New Year’s Six drought is almost as lengthy.The CFP remains a possibility, particularly for the Los Angeles schools.
So is missing the CFP again but sending a non-champion to the Cotton Bowl, which is part of the New Year’s Six and has two at-large slots available this season.The other could go to a Pac-12 team that finishes with one or two losses but doesn’t win the conference title — yet another potential benefit to having a top-heavy conference.
Over the eight years of the New Year’s Six format, the Pac-12 has only produced two at-large teams: Arizona went to the Fiesta Bowl in 2014, and Washington followed three years later. Because of the selection process, the Pac-12 could be better off having its second-highest ranked team advance to the conference title game.
If the playoff isn’t an option, then a loss in Las Vegas could eliminate that team from the New Year’s Six pool.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pac-12 power ratings: Oregon is No. 1 ahead of showdown with UCLA (all eyes on Eugene this week)It has been six years since the Pac-12 experienced a matchup of top-10 teams.
Read more »
Pac-12 power ratings: Oregon is No. 1 ahead of showdown with UCLA (all eyes on Eugene this week)It has been six years since the Pac-12 experienced a matchup of top-10 teams.
Read more »
New GOP super PAC boosting Rep. Jim Banks as he vies for majority whip roleA new super PAC headed by influential Trump allies is throwing its weight behind Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) as he aims to become the next House majority whip if Republicans take back the majority next year.
Read more »
Election Ticker: Tidbits From the Campaign TrailIn this week's election news, the District 3 candidate forum keeps it quick and Celia gets a PAC.
Read more »
Pac-12 point spreads for Week Eight: Oregon favored over UCLA in top-10 matchupThe Ducks opened as a 4.5-point favorite, but the line has moved in their direction.
Read more »
Pac-12 point spreads for Week Eight: Oregon favored over UCLA in Top-10 matchupWashington is favored by more than a touchdown at Cal.
Read more »